Photo by Shawn EppsMore than 6,000 new homes will be constructed in the next 10 to 12 years along the Grand Parkway between Cypress and Katy as part of a new master-planned community called Elyson. Newland Communities is developing the 3,600-acre project.
Elyson will be located six miles north of I-10 along Segment E of the Grand Parkway, west of the intersection at FM 529 and the Grand Parkway. The community will be located in portions of both Cy-Fair and Katy ISDs and is expected to house about 20,000 residents.
"The opening of the Grand Parkway was a huge impetus that opened up opportunities for growth from a residential and commercial perspective," said Jennifer Taylor, vice president of marketing for Newland Communities.
Newland Communities develops large-scale master-planned communities and has several other developments in the Greater Houston area, including Cinco Ranch in Katy, which also sits along the Grand Parkway.
"Cinco Ranch is about two and a half times the size of Elyson, but we expect it to be similar in terms of the scope and product and how it looks and feels," Taylor said. "It will have its own personality and features, but Elyson will still be done with commercial and recreational activities and great builders."
The design of the community will focus on outdoor recreation, Taylor said, with open space and green space prevalent throughout. Waterways will also be included in the design that might be used for drainage or walkways throughout Elyson, similar to features in Cinco Ranch.
The first amenity is scheduled to open in 2016 when the community launches. It will be a large-scale activity center with a cafe, resort-style pool, fitness center and indoor meeting space along with lawn space for community events, Taylor said.
Elyson will also feature a significant commercial component—about 300 acres—because of the proximity to the Grand Parkway and the employment centers that already exist along I-10.
"When you have 6,000 households, that dictates the commercial support our residents would be looking for," Taylor said.
Newland Communities expects to deliver the first lots to builders in the first half of 2016, and Elyson is expected to be built out in about 10 to 12 years, Taylor said.
"We expect the sales pace in the community to be fairly robust," Taylor said. "We try to deliver our products in tune with the market, so lot sizes and desires can change, but we intend to deliver a variety of lot sizes and product types, and we're hopeful we'll have strong sales years ahead of us."
